PKB suspends its chief Matori for violating party policy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) has suspended
\nits chairman, Matori Abdul Djalil, whom it said disregarded party
\npolicy by attending the People's Consultative Assembly's plenary
\nsession on Saturday that was boycotted by the party.<\/p>\n
The suspension was announced after senior party members
\nconsulted with President Abdurrahman Wahid at Merdeka Palace in
\nthe late afternoon.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who helped found the party, is also head of PKB's
\nadvisory council.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said later in the evening that Matori would be
\nreplaced by Alwi Shihab, who was the President's confidant and
\nthe minister of foreign affairs.<\/p>\n
The President insisted Matori had violated directives
\nforbidding party members from attending the session, which he
\nregarded as "illegal".<\/p>\n
"According to the PKB's constitution, the authority lies with
\nthe advisory council. Therefore, as head of the council, I have
\ndecided to suspend Matori," he said, adding that party branches
\nin several regions have also sought Matori's suspension.<\/p>\n
As for the possibility of dismissing Matori from the party,
\nAbdurrahman said it would be discussed by six PKB members namely
\nhimself, senior executive member Cholil Bisri, deputy chairman
\nArifin Junaedi, secretary-general Muhaimin Iskandar, Assembly
\nDeputy Speaker Yusuf Muhammad and Assembly member Ali Masykur
\nMusa.<\/p>\n
"This decision has an important national bearing," Abdurrahman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Separately, Matori, who is also an Assembly deputy speaker,
\ndenied violating party directives.<\/p>\n
"I didn't attend the meeting as a PKB member. I was there in
\nmy capacity as an Assembly deputy speaker," he argued.<\/p>\n
Matori added his attendance would not affect votes taken in
\nthe Assembly as the party faction was considered absent.<\/p>\n
"So, what did I do wrong? I have an obligation to the nation
\nas one of the Assembly's leaders. The leaders have work to do. I
\ncan't be absent," he said.<\/p>\n
When asked about PKB's reaction to his attending the plenary
\nsession, Matori said he was sure his fellow PKB members,
\nincluding Abdurrahman, would eventually understand.<\/p>\n
"I will explain to them that my presence at the session will
\nnot be in conflict with the party's decision to remain absent,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the afternoon, PKB deputy secretary-general
\nChotibul Umam Wiranu said the party in its talks with Abdurrahman
\nalso urged the President to declare a state of civil emergency in
\nresponse to the Assembly's decision to accelerate the special
\nsession, which he said violated the 1945 Constitution.
\n(hdn\/tso\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pkb-suspends-its-chief-matori-for-violating-party-policy-1447893297",
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